Tapered wrist band

ABSTRACT

A method of fabricating tapered link chains for watch bands, bracelets, and other items of jewelry. The method includes the step of arranging a series of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side relationship. The blanks are cut at a slight angle to the straight line to provide two sets of tapered end lugs. In assembling the chain, each of the two sets of end lugs are arranged with the tapered portion facing to the outside of the chain so that the links of the chain will contain a continueous taper. Center link-halves are staggered between the tapered end lugs, and the chain links are secured by connecting rods extending through holes in the link-halves and fastened at each end to a perspective one of the tapered end lugs.

lJite States Patent Pompeo [54] TAPERED WRIST BAND 949,909 9/1956 Germany ..59/80 72 I t L0 P B 1 of ms ompeo loomfield N J Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham [73] Asslgneer Duchess gm, bo n, Assistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Attorney-Kirschstein, Kirschstein, Ottinger & Frank [22] Filed: April 28, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 138129 A method of fabricating tapered link chains for watch bands, bracelets, and other items of jewelry. The [52] US. Cl ..59/35, 59/80 method includes the step of arranging a series of end [51] Int. Cl. ..Fl6g 13/18 lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side relation- [58] Field of Search ..59/35, 80, 82, 90; 63/4 ship. The blanks are cut at a slight angle to the straight line to provide two sets of tapered end lugs. ln assem- [56] Referen es Cited bling the chain, each of the two sets of end lugs are arranged with the tapered portion facing to the outside UNITED STATES PATENTS of the chain so that the links of the chain will contain 2 610 463 9/1952 Prestinari 59/80 a continueous taper. Center link-halves are staggered 3482394 12/1969 East "59/80 between the tapered end lugs, and the chain links are secured by connecting rods extending through holes in 3,529,416 9/ 1970 King ..59/80 the linkhalves and fastened at each end to a p p FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS five one of the tapered end lugs- 1,033,948 4/ 1953 France ..59/80 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures l l l I l l 1 J I l l I l l J l I) l l lt i l I \l 1 F l l /l l\| l l l. l\\l l l l TAPERED WRIST BAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Tapered link chains or bands such as are utilized for wrist watches, bracelets or like jewelry.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore the exposed end surfaces of end lugs utilized in a tapered watch band were ground after assembly of the twin rod link-halves and the central linkhalves to provide the desired taper. This grinding procedure was laborious, time consuming, uneconomical and could loosen the rods fitted in the end lugs. Moreover the grinding generates considerable stresses in the tin rods causing them occasionally to fracture or break. The present invention overcomes these difficulties and provides a method of fabricating a tapered link chain in an efficient and rapid manner when the end lugs are either symmetrical or asymmetrical in cross section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Purposes of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a method of fabricating tapered link chains in an economical manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of fabricating tapered bands having asymmetrical links utilizing means for cutting successively a plurality of link blanks.

It is another object of this invention to provide for the fabrication of the components of a tapered watch by transversely cutting a series of end lug link blanks for the tapered band.

Further objects and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following brief description of the invention and the description of the preferred embodiments when-read in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Invention The invention relates to an economical method of fabricating a conventional type tapered link band. The band consists of center link-halves and gradually tapered twin rod link-halves which are pivoted on the center link-halves. The taper provides for a narrowing of the band from the watch towards the clasp of the watch band. The exposed end surfaces of the end lugs on both sides of the center link are slightly tapered or narrowed to provide for the taper on both sides of the watch band. The lugs are connected by two rods which are inserted through the center link-halves and provide for the flexibility of the watch band. The rods are permanently connected to the end lugs, or same rods may be detachably connected.

The new method of fabricating the tapered link chain contemplates preferably drilling the holes in which the rods are to be force fitted in the opposite ends of end lug blanks. Each of the end lug blanks is utilized to make two end lugs of different widths. The blanks are transversely arranged in juxtaposition in a straight line and held in such position for cutting. A single transverse cut is made through the successive blanks from one end of the line of blanks to the opposite end of the line of blanks. Due to the transverse out being at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the line of blanks, each blank is cut into two pieces which have dimensions different than the two pieces of the blanks adjacent thereto. If the blanks are symmetrical in cross section, the single cut provides for the end links that may be utilized for the same tapered link chain. If, however, the cross section of each blank is asymmetrical, then two lines of blanks must be cut in order to provide for the end lugs of one tapered chain. The two cuts would provide for the end lugs for two sets of tapered chains with the end lugs for each chain being provided half from one cutting operation and half from the other cutting operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the cutting apparatus utilized in the method of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a series of end lug blanks illustrating the transverse cuts in accordance with the method of this invention;

FIG. 2A is a side view of a series of end lug blanks of i one embodiment of this invention in which the end lugs are asymmetrical in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a tapered flexible link band and clasp which is fabricated in accordance with the method of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 depicting the asymmetrical shape of the end lugs;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an end lug of the one embodiment of this invention which is asymmetrical incross section;

FIG. 5A is a top view illustrating in an exaggerated manner the taper of the asymmetrical end lug shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of an end lug having a symmetrical cross section;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of symmetrical end lug blanks utilized in the method of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a pictorialview of one of the chain links utilizing the end lugs depicted in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 3, a wrist watch band or chain 10 is shown which has a clasp ll joining two chains of tapered links 12. A typical link 12 of one specific embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the links 12 includes a twin rod link-half 13 having symmetrical, elliptically shaped end lugs 14 and 15 and a center link-half 16. The twin rod link-half 13 includes the two end lugs 14 and 15 which are connected to each other by means of two cylindrical rods 18 and 20 having their ends force fitted or detachably engaged in blind bores (holes) in the end lugs 14 and 15. The rod 20 passes through the center link-half 16 and forms therewith a link 12 composed of pivotally interconnected halves. The rod 18 of the twin rod link-half 13 passes through the center link-half 16 of the next adjacent one of the links 12 to form another pivotal interconnection. FIG. 8 illustrates the embodiment of the invention wherein the end lugs 14 and 15 have an elliptical or elongated oval shape, shown more particularly in FIG. 9. FIGS. 4 and 6 depict other cross-sectional shapes which may be utilized for the end lugs. The method of this invention is accordingly not restricted to the fabrication of a tapered link chain of any particular cross sectional shape of end lugs.

The diameter of the parallel rods 18 and 20 which are force fitted and permanently engage blind bores in the end lugs 14 and 15 may illustratively be 0.062 inches. The overall dimensions of the center link-half 16 may illustratively be 0.35 inches long and 0.30 inches wide and its thickness may illustratively be 0.14 inches. In order to fabricate the link band 10, the center links 15 are formed which are each substantially identical in shape. Due to the taper of the band illustratively narrowing towards the clasp 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the end lugs 14 and are successively narrower as they approach the clasp II. The end lugs 14 and 15 are made from end lug blanks 24, shown in FIG. 2. The blanks illustratively may have a length of 0.40 inches, a width of 0.20 inches and a thickness of 0.14 inches. The blanks 24 are positioned on adjacent the other, as shown in FIG. 2, in a linear arrangement. The blanks 24 are held in this position by a jig 26. The ends of each of the blanks 24 is drilled to provide in each blank four blind bores 28, two on each end of the blank. As is hereinafter described and as indicated above, the pins 18 and 20 are force fitted into these bores when the twin rod link-half I3 is assembled.

After the blanks 24 are held in the jig 26, the blanks 24 are successively severed by any suitable cutting means, e.g. an abrasive wheel 30, as shown in FIG. 1, or a rotary saw, bandsaw, jigsaw, electrodischarge machine, electrochemical grinder or a laser beam. The cutting means forms a transverse kerf or cut 32 depicted in FIG. 2. The cut 32 is oriented at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the juxtaposed side-by-side blanks 24. Each blank 24 is accordingly separated into two end lugs of different widths (different on the same side of the cut). The cut surfaces of the end lug blanks provide the outer end surfaces of the end lugs in a finished articulated chain; the surfaces of the end lugs which were outermost during cutting provide the inner surfaces of the end lugs in a finished articulated chain.

When the end lug blanks 24 are symmetrical in cross section such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the single cut 32 provides end lugs 14 and 15 for the same tapered link chain. Illustratively, the upper portions or end lugs in FIG. 2 of the blanks 24, due to the cut 32, may be utilized illustratively to form the end lugs 15 of one-half of the link chain 10 which is at the right of FIG. 3. The upper portions may be utilized for the lugs 15 because the upper portions may be inverted, being symmetrical in cross section. The blind bores 28 and the straight non-tapered side of the end lugs must face the center link-halves 16 of the links 12. Similarly cut lower parts of the blanks 24 in FIG. 2 may be used as the end lugs 14 at the right side of the clasp 11. The lower parts of the blanks 24 may be utilized as the links 14 at the right of the clasp 11 if they are inverted and also used in reverse order starting with the widest at the right. In this manner, either cut portion of the blanks 24 may be utilized as the end lugs 15 or the end lugs 14. As indicated above, the tapered edge formed by the cut 32 must be on the outside of the link chain 10 away from the center link-halves l6, and the drilled blind bores 28 must be positioned towards the link-halves 16 so as to support therebetween the pins or rods 18 and 20.

This arrangement described is available when the end lug blanks 24 are symmetrical in cross section as depicted by the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. However, when an asymmetrical blank 24 is utilized having a cross section, such as depicted in FIGS. 2A, 4, 5 and 5A, the arrangement is more complicated in that a single cut cannot provide for the end lugs at the same side of the link chain 10 because the asymmetrical end lugs cannot be inverted before assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 4, 5 and 5A, there is shown an end lug 40 having the two blind bores 42 and 44 for receiving the twin rods, not shown, of a twin rod linkhalf of similar arrangement as described above with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 5A is a top view of the end lug 40 and depicts in an exaggerated manner the tapered shape of the end lug 40. The end lug 40 has a flat wristfacing bottom 46 and a top 48 which is curved to meet the sides of the end lug 40. The curved portions are designated at 50 in FIGS. 4 and 5. Due to the curved top 48 and flat bottom 46, the end lug 40 is nonsymmetrical.

When a line of end lug blanks 24, as shown in FIG. 2, are transversely cut along the line 32, two lines of end lugs are fabricated. With the cross-sectional shape of the blanks asymmetrical, being for example of the type depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the two series of end lugs provided by one cut cannot be utilized to provide the opposite tapers of the same tapered link chain. In order to taper in the same direction, one of the series of end lugs fabricated by the single cut must be inverted as described above in reference to blanks 24 of symmetrical cross section. Due to the asymmetrical shape of the blanks 24, the inversion of the end lugs would bring the bottom surface to the top and vice versa-an unusable arrangement. For a cut 32 of the type depicted in FIG. 2, the upper row or series of end lugs provided by the cut may be utilized on the right of FIG. 3 for the end lugs 14. The bottom row provided by the same cut cannot be utilized for the end lugs 15 on the right of FIG. 3 but may be utilized for the end lugs 15 at the left of FIG. 3. In this manner, one cut provides for the end lugs 14 at the right of FIG. 3 and for the end lugs 15 at the left of FIG. 3. In order to provide for the end lugs 15 at the right of FIG. 3 and the end lugs 14 at the left of FIG. 3, another series of blanks 24 must be lined up and cut transversely in the direction depicted by the dash lines 32A. With the blanks 24 cut along the line 32A the lower parts may be utilized as the end lugs 15 at the right of FIG. 3 and the upper part may be utilized as the end lugs 14 at the left of FIG. 3. The slopes of the lines 32 and 32A are equal in magnitude but of opposite sign; one being the negative of the other.

The method of this invention accordingly is applicable with the utilization of asymmetrical end lugs such as the end lug 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, when the asymmetrical end lugs 40 are utilized for the twin rod link-halves, two transverse cuts of two separate lines of end lugs blanks 24 must be provided. The two cuts provide for a total of four lines of end lugs which together may form two separate tapered link chains. One of the two link chains alone cannot be accomplished utilizing a single cut but requires two transverse cuts when an asymmetrical cross section is utilized.

After the end lugs are provided due to the cuts 32 and 32A, they are assembled with the rods 18 and 20 and the center link-halves 16 to form a tapered link chain.

it thus will be seen that there are provided tapered wrist chains or bands which achieve the various objects of the invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various other possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. In a method of fabricating a tapered link chain composed of pivotally interconnected center linkhalves and rod link-halves; the steps of fabricating a plurality of connecting rods; fabricating a plurality of end lug blanks of similar shape; arranging the plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition; cutting transversely through each of said plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle to the straight line along which the plurality of blanks are arranged to provide two sets of tapered end lugs, and assembling the two sets of tapered end lugs with the connecting rods and the centered link-halves to form a tapered link chain.

2. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 1 comprising the additional step of inverting one of the two sets of tapered end lugs provided by the cutting step before the assembly with the other set of end lugs, with the rods, and with the center link-halves.

3. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 1 comprising the additional step of drilling a pair of holes in the opposite sides of each of the end lug blanks before cutting, and wherein the assembly step includes fitting each rod through a center link-half and fitting its ends in one of the holes of one end lug from each of the sets of tapered end lugs.

4. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 3 wherein the assembly step includes arranging each of the two sets of tapered end lugs provided by the cutting step with the sides having the pair of drilled holes facing each other and the cut sides facing away from each other.

5. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 2 comprising the additional step of reversing the order of the end lugs of the inverted one of the sets of tapered end lugs whereby the end lugs of equal width of the two sets of end lugs are paired.

6. In a method of fabricating a tapered link chain composed of pivotally interconnected center linkhalves and rod link-halves: the steps of fabricating a plurality of connecting rods; fabricating a plurality of end lug blanks of similar shape to each other and each of asymmem'cal cross section; arranging the plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition; cutting transversely through each of said plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle to the straight line along which the plurality of blanks are arranged to with connecting rods and center link-halves to form a tapered link chain.

7. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 6 comprising the additional step of arranging a second plurality of end lug blanks having similar cross section asymmetrical shapes as the first mentioned plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition, cutting transversely through each of said second plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle, reverse to the first named angle, to the straight line along which the second plurality of blanks are arranged to provide for a second pair of two sets of tapered end lugs, and the assembly step includes assembling each of the two sets provided by the first mentioned cutting step with a corresponding one of the two sets of the second pair of two sets without inverting any of the sets whereby two tapered link chains are fabricated.

8. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 7 wherein the transverse cutting line by the second mentioned cutting step has a slope of the same magnitude but is the negative of the slope of the cut provided by the first mentioned cutting step. 

1. In a method of fabricating a tapered link chain composed of pivotally interconnected center link-halves and rod link-halves; the steps of fabricating a plurality of connecting rods; fabricating a plurality of end lug blanks of similar shape; arranging the plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition; cutting transversely through each of said plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle to the straight line along which the plurality of blanks are arranged to provide two sets of tapered end lugs, and assembling the two sets of tapered end lugs with the connecting rods and the cenTered link-halves to form a tapered link chain.
 2. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 1 comprising the additional step of inverting one of the two sets of tapered end lugs provided by the cutting step before the assembly with the other set of end lugs, with the rods, and with the center link-halves.
 3. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 1 comprising the additional step of drilling a pair of holes in the opposite sides of each of the end lug blanks before cutting, and wherein the assembly step includes fitting each rod through a center link-half and fitting its ends in one of the holes of one end lug from each of the sets of tapered end lugs.
 4. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 3 wherein the assembly step includes arranging each of the two sets of tapered end lugs provided by the cutting step with the sides having the pair of drilled holes facing each other and the cut sides facing away from each other.
 5. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 2 comprising the additional step of reversing the order of the end lugs of the inverted one of the sets of tapered end lugs whereby the end lugs of equal width of the two sets of end lugs are paired.
 6. In a method of fabricating a tapered link chain composed of pivotally interconnected center link-halves and rod link-halves: the steps of fabricating a plurality of connecting rods; fabricating a plurality of end lug blanks of similar shape to each other and each of asymmetrical cross section; arranging the plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition; cutting transversely through each of said plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle to the straight line along which the plurality of blanks are arranged to provide two sets of tapered end lugs, and assembling each of the two sets of end lugs with other end lugs and with connecting rods and center link-halves to form a tapered link chain.
 7. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 6 comprising the additional step of arranging a second plurality of end lug blanks having similar cross section asymmetrical shapes as the first mentioned plurality of end lug blanks in a straight line in side-by-side juxtaposition, cutting transversely through each of said second plurality of blanks arranged in the straight line, the cutting being along a line at a small angle, reverse to the first named angle, to the straight line along which the second plurality of blanks are arranged to provide for a second pair of two sets of tapered end lugs, and the assembly step includes assembling each of the two sets provided by the first mentioned cutting step with a corresponding one of the two sets of the second pair of two sets without inverting any of the sets whereby two tapered link chains are fabricated.
 8. A method of fabricating a tapered link chain in accordance with claim 7 wherein the transverse cutting line by the second mentioned cutting step has a slope of the same magnitude but is the negative of the slope of the cut provided by the first mentioned cutting step. 